On 2 March 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) shot dead Mr Eanus Mom, a civilian gold miner, during a security operation conducted by near Mile 69 in the PT Freeport Indonesia mining concession area, Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province.
During the same operation, seven individuals were arbitrarily detained, including Mr Wainus Kogoya, Head of RT 07 in Utikini Dua Village, and Mr Nopenius Murib, an internally displaced resident from the Ilaga District who had sought refuge in Utikini Baru SP 12. According to family members and community representatives, the deceased and the detained individuals were civilians and not members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), as publicly claimed by the Indonesian military.
According to official information released by the Indonesian military, TNI members conducted a security operation after receiving reports of an armed attack allegedly carried out by members of the TPNPB in the Tembagapura area. The operation took place on 2 March 2026 in the evening at approximately 6:00 pm near Mile 69 of the PT Freeport Indonesia mining area. Military authorities stated that TPNPB opened fire at a patrol team, which reportedly returned fire and subsequently raided the surrounding area. According to the TNI statement, one TPNPB member was killed and six others were arrested during the operation. Several items, including an air rifle, and traditional weapons such as arrows and bows were allegedly confiscated.
Family members and local residents dispute this account. According to relatives of the deceased, Mr Eanus Mom, was a civilian working as a gold miner in Kali Kabur and had no involvement with the TPNPB. A family member stated that military members hsot dead Mr Mom at Post 4 Utikini during the operation.
Following the incident, the body and detainees were reportedly taken to Koramil 1710-04/Tembagapura. On 3 March 2026, Mr Mom's body was transported by ambulance to the family residence in Route 4, Kwamki Narama District in the afternoon (see video below, source: indpendent HRD). Upon arrival, the body remained in the ambulance for several hours while security officials and local government representatives talked with the family. The relatives demanded accountability for the killing and reiterated that the victim was not affiliated with any armed group.
At the same time, members of the extended family from Utikini Baru SP 12 called upon the the TNI and Police authorities in Mimika Regency to immediate release Mr Wainus Kogoya and Mr Nopenius Murib, asserting that both men were civilian residents with no involvement in armed activities (see video below, source: indepndent HRD). All detaniees were released without charges on 6 March 2026.
Human rights analysis
The incident raises serious concerns regarding the use of lethal force by security forces during military operations in civilian areas, particularly in the absence of transparent evidence that the victim was directly participating in hostilities. If the victim was a civilian, the shooting may constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life under international human rights law.
The killing of a civilian during a security operation may constitute a violation of the right to life as enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly if lethal force was used without necessity or proportionality, or if the victim did not pose an imminent threat. According to the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, security forces must strictly adhere to the principles of necessity, proportionality, precaution, and accountability when using force.
In addition, the detention of civilians during security sweeps without clear evidence or due process safeguards may violate protections against arbitrary arrest and detention as stipulated in Article 9 ICCPR. The absence of an immediate independent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting and detention also raises concerns regarding impunity and the failure of authorities to ensure effective remedies for victims and their families.
Furthermore, the conflicting narratives between military authorities and the victim's family highlight the lack of transparency and independent oversight in security operations in the Papuan provinces, particularly in areas surrounding major extractive industry sites such as the PT Freeport Indonesia mining complex in Tembagapura. The continued detention of individuals without due procedure also raises concerns regarding arbitrary arrest and potential criminalisation of civilians suspected of supporting or being associated with armed groups.
Detailed case data
Location: Tembagapura, Arwandop, Kec. Tembagapura, Kabupaten Mimika, Papua Tengah, Indonesia (-4.333333, 137) near Mile 69 in the PT Freeport Indonesia mining concession area
Region: Indonesia, Central Papua, Mimika, Tembagapura
Total number of victims: 7
1. Eanus Mom, male adult Indigenous Peoples execution, right to life, unlawful killing
2. Wainus Kogoya, male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
3. Nopenius Murib, male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
4. Male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
5. Male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
6. Male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
7. Male adult Indigenous Peoples arbitrary detention
Period of incident: 02/03/2026-02/03/2026
Perpetrator: Indonesian Military (TNI)
Perpetrator details: Members of the Kodim 1710/Mimika
Issues: indigenous peoples